Odds and Ends: WaPo, HK, Cole

-Yesterday, we extended some exciting news about PhilliesNation.com. Today, we’re lucky enough to be in one of the largest newspapers in the world. Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post wrote an article(you’ll probably need to sign up for the WaPo website to read it, which is free) about the influx of Phillies fans in D.C. on Opening Day. Who did he interview? Our very own Brian Michael, who was able to secure a few hundred tickets without even a phone call to the Nationals. He gave a nice shout to Phillies Nation.

In a shocking bit of news, Kilgore finished off his piece with this two-paragraph stab at Phillies fans, which really had little to do with the crux of the article.

During pregame introductions at Nationals Park Monday, Phillies fans booed Nationals staff and players and chanted “Sucks!” after the public announcer bellowed each name.

“That was impressive,” Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth said. “It felt like all of right field was only Phillies fans. This kind of started to be our home away from home a little bit.”

He then makes Werth seem like he’s condoning the FEW Phillies fans who booed the Nats players and coaching staff. This ending really seems to come out of left field. I will say this: I’m growing tired of the small crew of Phils fans who make trouble for everyone. The people who scream and yell at others, who launch obscenities into a family-friendly atmosphere – your bit is tired, give it up. I want to be seen as a passionate fan base, not as an A-hole fan base.

Hard to believe its been a year since HK was taken from us too soon. Everywhere you go in Philadelphia, his soul still lives on. People talk about him as if he’s still with us. You can often hear someone emulating his distinct home run calls, or attempting to at least. Frank Fitzpatrick of the Philadelphia Inquirer paints a portrait of HK’s final moments quite vividly in today’s paper.

At the end, there is a quote from Rob Brooks of the Phillies, one of the first people to see him unconscious in the booth, that really sends shivers. Brooks says:

I talked to [Kalas’ son] Todd that evening, and we both came to the conclusion that had the efforts to revive him worked, he probably would have been angry because he would have been away from the yard for three or four months. That probably would have been unacceptable to him. For Harry, if you can’t do what you love, why be here?

If you can’t do what you love, why be here? Truer words were never spoken.

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-Today is somewhat of a momentous occasion as Cole Hamels takes the mound for the first time in 2010. He’ll certainly be looking to check his rear-view for any signs of 2009. Hamels has worked diligently in the offseason to prepare for the challenge of finding his ’08 form. That begins tonight at 7:05.

It would be foolish to expect anything similar to his 2008 playoff performance, but if he can strike a balance between ’08 and ’09, he might be on to something. He doesn’t have to be brilliant every time out, he just needs to be a steady number two. We already have an ace, and we’ve seen what he can do. Doc just needs a sidekick, and everyone is pulling for that to be Cole Hamels.